Smog-Eating Pavement in the Works

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In Hengelo, Netherlands, you can walk on the sunny side of the street: on their new smog-eating sidewalk.

Scientists from Eindhoven University of Technology installed a block of air-purifying pavement onto one city block and recently published the results. The special, filth-hungry concrete has been named “photocatlytic.” It’s made from plain ol’ concrete, sprayed with titanium oxide, which neutralizes pollutants in the air. So far, researchers have seen a decrease in pollution at an average of about 19% per day.

In 2010, when the pavement was in its early stages, researcher Jos Brouwers told CNN, “[The concrete] could be a very feasible solution for inner city areas where they have a problem with air pollution.”

Could the hungry, hungry concrete be hittin’ the roads in more cities soon? Possibly, after they tweak the price tag. But after more testing and a decrease in price, walking on (and in) sunshine could be a reality soon.